
1Ra\>al ©r6er 



OF THE 



'Olnitcb Statce 



Circular of Information 



of the 



Naval Order of the United States. 



Organized July 4, 1890 



PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
i8g6 



, Wo.7 hi. 



Gift 

Mrs. Julian Jam** 

1012 



ISSUED BY THE GENERAL RECORDER, 
BY ORDER OF THE GENERAL COMMANDERY. 



History of the Naval Order. 



The Naval Order of the United States developed from 
an informal gathering, in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1890, 
of a few persons interested in the naval history of our country. 

A permanent organization was effected November 10, 1890, 
under the style and title of the Naval Commandery of the United 
States. The membership was restricted to officers and enlisted 
men of the Naval, Marine and Revenue-Marine services, and to 
their descendants, and v«as -limited in nuajber. This organization 
is believed to be the first hereditary society in which eligibility 
was dependent on purely naval service. 

At the meeting of the Commandery, held November 10, 1892, 
action was taken to broaden the field of the association by the 
formation of a National body with branches in the different States. 
In connection with another society of a similar character (styled 
the Naval Legion of the United States and since dissolved), a 
provisional organization was effected on June 19, 1893, and the 
First Congress of the Order was held in the Armory of the Ancient 
and Honorable Artillery Company in Faneuil Hall, Boston, 
Massachusetts. At a Special Congress held August 15, 1893, the 
General Commandery of the Naval Order of the United 
States was fully constituted; the parent body becoming the 
Massachusetts Commandery of the Naval Order of the 
United States. 

A change was also made at the same time in the eligibility 
clause of the Constitution, membership being restricted in future 
to commissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps and to 
their descendants. 

State Commanderies have likewise since been instituted and 
incorporated in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and the District 
of Columbia, at subsequent General or Special Congresses of the 
Order held on August 15, 1893, April 23 and August 8, 1894, 
and on October 5, 1895. 

(3) 



Extracts from the Constitution 



of the 



Naval Order of the United States. 



Preamble. 

Whereas, Maity of the principal battles and famous victories 
of the several wars in which the United States has participated 
were fought and achieved b)' the Naval forces; 

Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of 
the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms, 
and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should be 
forever honored and respected; — 

Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration of the 
undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and 
descendants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have 
joined ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of 
the United States, ' ' that we may transmit to our latest posterity 
their glorious names and memories; and to encourage research and 
publication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and to 
establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, books, 
portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at all times. 

ARTICLE III. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

The Companions of the Order shall be of two classes. 

First Class. 
Commissioned officers, midshipmen and naval cadets, or corps 
or staff officers with relative rank as such, or appointed volunteer 
officers in line of promotion, who were in actual service in the 
Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Service under the authority of 
any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Continental 
Congress during the War of the Revolution or of the United States 

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during the War with France, the War with Tripoli, the War of 
1812, the War with Mexico, the Civil War, or in face of the 
enemy in any engagement in which the Navy of the United States 
has participated, and who resigned, were discharged with honor, 
or who are still in the service, or those who served as aforesaid, 
but in a grade below that of a commissioned officer, midshipman, 
naval cadet, or corps or staff officer, with relative rank as such, or 
appointed volunteer officer in line of promotion, and who subse- 
quently became a commissioned officer, regular or volunteer, in 
the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Service: 
Provided however, That this clause shall not be so construed as to 
include officers who at any time have borne arms against the 
Government of the United States. 

All male descendants of those who are eligible as above 
specified, or in default thereof, then one such collateral representa- 
tive as may be deemed worthy. 

Secojid Class. 
Enlisted men who have received the United States Naval 
Medal of Honor for bravery in face of the enemy, may be enrolled 
exempt from fees and dues by the Commanderies of the States in 
which they reside; such membership to be for life only. 

ARTICI.E VII. 

ORGANIZATION OF COMMANDKRIES. 

The General Commandery shall have the power to authorize 
and constitute a Commandery of the Naval Order of the United 
States in any State or Territory in which no such Commandery 
exists, when formally petitioned to do so by ten or more Com- 
panions of the Order residing in said State or Territory and on 
receipt of the prescribed charter fee. 



ARTICI^E IX. 

ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. 

Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral 
character and reputation, desirous of becoming a Companion of 
the Order, shall make application in writing, setting forth claims 
of eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in which it 
must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant 



was other than shore duty, regularly performed in the United 
States Navy or on an armed vessel in the service of the United 
States, or sailing under letters of marque and reprisal in time of 
war. 

Said application, bearing the endorsement of two Com- 
panions, and accompanied by an admission fee of not less than 
five (5.00) dollars, shall be submitted to the Committee on Mem- 
bership, who shall present their report to the Council of the 
Commandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that body the applicant 
shall thereupon become a Companion of the Order. 



The applications of persons claiming the eligibility through 
Naval service, whether rendered personally or by an ancestor, 
which does not appear to come within the specifications of Article 
III, of this Constitution, must first be referred by the Council of 
a vState Commandery to the General Recorder for his decision and 
bear his endorsement before the applicant can be elected to mem- 
bership in the Order. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

INSIGNIA. 

The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross 
pattee, one and one quarter inches in diameter, arms of blue 
enamel edged with gold. 

CROSS. 

Obverse: In the centre of a circle of red enamel five- 
sixteenths of an inch in diameter, an eagle, wings extended, rest- 
ing on an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars of five points all of 
gold, representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the 
United States; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one- 
eighth of an inch wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of 
the Order, " Fidelitas et Patria." 

Reverse: The Cross as above described. In the center on a 
circle of red enamel five sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall 
appear in gold the insignia of the United States Marine Corps, the 
whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch 
wide, bearing in letters of gold the legend, " Naval Order of the 
United States. ' ' 



The Cross shall be worn on the left breast suspended by a 
ribbon of heavy ribbed white silk, one and one-half inches wide, 
with, a red center three-fourths of an inch wide, the whole an inch 
and a half in displayed length. 

Officers of State Commanderies shall wear the Cross suspended 
by the ribbon of the Order around the neck. 



When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one half of an inch 
in diameter of the prescribed ribbon and pattern may be worn by 
Companions in the upper button-hole of the left lapel of the coat. 



General Information. 



The Naval Order consists of the General Commandery- 
and the State Commanderies. The legislative body for the whole 
Order is the Congress, which, composed of the General Officers 
and six Delegates from each Commandery, meets in regular session 
every third year, on October 5th, the anniversary of the adoption 
by Congress in 1775, of the resolutions formally authorizing the 
fitting-out of the first ships of the Navy. It may also meet in 
Special Session upon the vote of the General Council, which meets 
semi-annually. 

The Council, in either the General or a State Commandery, 
has the functions of a board of directors. The Councils of State 
Commanderies meet quarterly. 

The Stated Meetings of the State Commanderies are held 
in the month of November of each year for the election of officers. 
Special Meetings are held from time to time. 

The Admission Fee is five (5) dollars; the annual dues are 
three (3) dollars; and are payable in January of each year. 
Companions admitted after the first day of October, shall be 
exempt from the payment of annual dues for the current year. 
The payment of fees for life or endowed memberships in the Order, 
is regulated by the by-laws of the respective State Commanderies. 

All Applications for Membership must be made to the 
Recorder of a State Commandery, who will furnish the necessary 
blanks, which must be filled out fully and returned with the 
admission fee to the Recorder before action can be taken by the 
Council. The application is in duplicate, one copy being for file 
with the General Commandery, the other for the State Com- 
mandery. In case of rejection of the application, after investiga- 
tion by the Membership Committee, the fee is returned. 

Insignia. By the provisions of the Act of Congress of Sep- 
tember 25, 1890, officers and enlisted men of the different branches 
of the services are permitted to wear the Insignia and colors on all 
occasions of ceremony and when in full uniform. 

(8) 



The cost of the Insignia is $15, the rosette costs twentj^-five 
cents. Either are obtained from the General Recorder through 
the State Recorders; payment in advance being required in all 
cases. The important business transacted at the meetings of the 
General and State Commanderies and Councils, is briefly reviewed 
in a series of special orders published for the information of Com- 
panions and containing also a list, with rank and residence, of all 
candidates elected to membership, together with the names of the 
Companions proposing them. 




OFFICERS 

OF THE 

GENERAL COMMANDERY. 
189J-1898. 



General Commander, 
Rear Admiral John Grimes Wai,ker, U. S. N. (Penna. Commandery). 

Vice General Commanders, 

Rear Admiral Francis Asburv Roe, U. S. N. (retired) (Mass. Commandery). 

Chief Engineer George Wallace Melville, U. S. N. (D. C. Commandery). 

Colonel John BiddlE Porter, (Pennsylvania Commandery). 

General Recorder, 

Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A. (retired) (Penna. Commandery). 

(Address : Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Assistant General Recorder, 
Frederick Bacon Philbrook, (Massachusetts Commandery). 

General Treasurer, 
Ivieutenant Jarvis Bonesteel EDSON,(late U. S. N.) (N. Y. Commandery). 

General Registrar, 
Captain CharlES Bunker DAHLGREN,(lateU. S. N.) (Penna, Commandery). 

General Historian, 
Captain Richard Strader Collum, U. S. M. C. (Penna. Commandery). 

General Chaplain, 

Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D. D., LL. D., D. C. 1,., (Bishop of Iowa) 

(Massachusetts Commandery). 

3Tembers of General Council, 
Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. (D. C. Commandery). 
Commodore Edward Eells PoTTER,U. S.N. (retired) (Penna. Commandery). 
*Commander Felix McCurley, U. S. N. (Pennsylvania Commandery). 
Captain Norman H. Farouhar, U. S. N. (Pennsylvania Commandery). 
Lieutenant Loyall Farragut, (late U. S. A.) (N. Y. Commandery). 
*Hon. John Hoffman Collamore. (Massachusetts Commandery). 
Chief Engineer LouiS J. Allen, U. S. N. (New York Commandery). 
Major Henry Chauncey, Jr. (New York Commandery). 
Lieutenant Robert S. Critchell, (late U. S. N.) (Illinois Commandery). 
* Dec-eased. 

(10) 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

MASSACHUSETTS COMMANDERY. 

1896-1897. 



Commander, 
Chief Engineer David Betton Macomb, U. S. N. (retired). 

Vice Commander , 
Commander Hknry Ware Lyon, U. S. N. 

Recorder, 

Amos Binnev. 

(Address: 53 State Street, Boston, Mass.) 

Treasurer, 
Hosea Emery Bowen. 

Registrar, 
Frankun Thomason Beatty, M. D. 

Historian, 
William Lithgow Willey, S. D. 

Chaplain, 
Rev. Charles Langdon Tappan. 

3Iembers of Council, 

Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap, U. S. N. (retired). 

Thomas Amorv De Blois, M. D. 

Charles William Galloupe, M. D. 

Lieutenant William McCarty Little, U. S. N. (retired). 

Rodney Macdonough. 

Lieutenant Commander William Melville Paul, M. V. M. 

Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 

Major William Boerum Wetmore. 

Trustees of Permanent Fund, 

William Lithgow Willey, S. D. 

Charles Calhoun Philbrook. 

Franklin Thomason Beatty, M. D. 



(11; 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

PENNSYLVANIA COMMANDERY. 

1896-1897. 



Commander, 

Colonel John Biddle Porter. 

Vice Commander, 

Commodore Edward Eeli,s Potter, U. S. N. (retired). 

EecorrJer, 

James Varnum Peter Turner, (late U. S. N. ) 

(Address: 517 City Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Treasurer, 

John Marston. 

Registrar, 

Captain Charles Bunker Dahlgren, (late U. S. N.) 

Historian, 

Captain Richard Strader Coli^um, U. S. M. C. 

Chaplain, 

Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden. 

Blembers of Council, 

Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker. U. S. N., 

Captain Norman H. Farouhar, U. S. N., 

Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A. (retired) 

Henry Kuhl Nichols, 

Edward Trenchard, 

William Ellison Bullus, 

Henry Kuhl Dillard, 

Edward Rutledge Shubrick, (late U. S. N.), 

Paymaster Reah Frazer, U. S. N. 

Committee on dlemhership. 

Captain Henry Hobart Bellas. U. S. A.. 

Captain Henry B. Seely, U. S. N. (retired), 

James Varnum Peter Turner, (Recorder). 

Delegates to the General Commandery, 

Captain Richard Strader Collum, U. S. M. C, 

Captain William Bainbridge Hope, U. S. A., 

John Marston. 

Alternates. 

Commander James McQueen Forsyth, U. S. N 

Charles W. Ruschhnberger, (late U. S. N.) 

Ben Holladay Dorcy. 

Trustee of the Permanent Fund, 
To serve three years. 

Captain Charles Bunker Dahlgren. 

(12) - 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

NEW YORK COMMANDERY, 

1896-1897. 



Commander, 
LoYALL Farragut, (late U. S. A.) 

Vice Commander, 
Henry Chauncey, Jr. 

Hecorder, 

Chief Engineer Louis Joseph Allen, U.S. N. 

(Address: Union Club, New York, N. Y.) 

Treasurer, 
Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, (late U. S. N. ) 

Historian, 
Chief Engineer GEORGE CowiE, Jr., U. S. N. 

Chaplain, 
Rev. J. L. Humphreys. 

Members of Council, 
Philip Burril Low. 

Albert Bullus. 

William T. Salter. 

John Loyd. 

Marshall Ten Broek Davidson. 

James Mortimer Montgomery. 

Delegates to the General Commandery, 

Jarvis Bonesteel Edson. 

John Loyd. 

James Parker. 

Alternates, 

Chief Engineer Henry Schuyler Ross, U. S. N. 

George Sanford Wiley. 

Philip Burril Low. 



(13) 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

ILLINOIS COMMANDERY. 

1 896- 1 897. 



Commander, 
Commander James Henry Dayton, U. S. N. 

Vice Commander, 
Lieutenant Commande/ Edward M. Stedman, U. S. N. (retired). 

Recorder, 

Paymaster Horatio Loomis Wait, (late U. S. N.). 

(Address: 108 La Salle Street, Chicago, 111.) 

Registrar and Treasurer, 
• Robert Siderfin Critchei<i,, (late U. S. N.). 

Chaplain {acting). 
Ensign Daniel, Brooks Hubbard, (late U. S. N.). 

Members of Council. 
Leonard C. Stebbins. 
Wilwam Lindsay Orr. 
Cyrus Bosworth Pi,attenburg. 
James Joseph Sullivan. 
Orison Benjamin Damon, M. D. 
John Franklin. 
Frank Lee Strong. 
Eliot Callender. 
Daniel Brooks Hubbard. 

Commiitee on Memhership. 

Daniel Brooks Hubbard. 

Lieutenant Commander Edward M. Stedman, U. S. N. (retired) 

Horatio Lcomis Wait, (Recorder). 



(14) 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

District of Columbia Commandery. 
1896-1897. 



Acting Commander^ 
Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. 

Acting Vice-Commander^ 
Chief Engineer George Wallace Melville, U. S. N. 

Acting Recorder and Registrar, 

Captain Henry HobarT Bellas, U. S. A. (retired.) 

(Address: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.) 

Acting Treasurer, 
Paymaster John Randolph Carmody, U. S. N. (retired. 



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